Ex-minister booked for allotting plot to his wife

The state anti-corruption and vigilance bureau on Thursday booked former urban development minister Kishan Kapoor for allegedly "misusing" his powers to allot a plot under the discretionary quota to his wife and persons known to him.

The state anti-corruption and vigilance bureau on Thursday booked former urban development minister Kishan Kapoor for allegedly "misusing" his powers to allot a plot under the discretionary quota to his wife and persons known to him.

Hearing the petition filed by one Arun Dev Bisht of Dharamsala, it was on August 2 that the Himachal Pradesh high court had directed the state government to conduct an inquiry into alleged irregularities by Kapoor as housing minister and HIMUDA chairman, including allotment of plot under discretionary quota to his wife.

The division bench comprising chief justice AM Khanvilkar and justice VK Sharma had directed that investigation be conducted by an officer not below the rank of superintendent of police and a report be submitted by September 20.

Petitioner Bisht had alleged that Kapoor misused the power of discretionary quota when he headed the Himachal Pradesh Housing and Urban Development Authority under the BJP government and allotted plots in an illegal manner to his wife.

The petitioner alleged that the respondent being an MLA and former minister had violated laws and regulations during construction of his hotel at Dharamsala. He also alleged that a residential plot was also allotted under the discretionary quota to a journalist.

The petitioner, who had gathered information under the Right to Information Act, alleged that Kapoor had extended two floors of the hotel in violation. Kapoor was urban development minister during the BJP regime.

"A case has been registered against Kapoor. He has been booked under various sections of the Corruption of Prevention Act," confirmed deputy inspector general anti-corruption and (vigilance and bureau) AP Singh.